Optimas Solutions, an award-winning global manufacturer and distributor of precision-made fasteners and supply chain solutions attended TeenTech, an educational event in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, on the 26th January.
TeenTech is hosted by the MIRA Institute of Technology, a global centre for educating engineering and automotive professionals. This event aims to inspire young students to learn about the worlds of science and engineering before they make their crucial GCSE subject choices. TeenTech also aims to dispel existing gender stereotypes about careers in STEM, and mitigate misconceptions about science and engineering being too difficult or unfulfilling.
Over 150 students from across Warwickshire and Leicestershire met with representatives from a diverse range of businesses and manufacturers, from motorbike manufacturers to health and safety software developers, to enhance their understanding of technological processes.
Students attended 7 15-minute presentations and took part in interactive activities. In one instance students used a VR headset to save someone from an industrial accident, while others undertook varying puzzles and challenges. To help students understand the complexities of fastener manufacturing, Optimas Solutions delivered a talk about the stages of cold-form manufacturing, from goods-in to part production. The students then took part in an interactive workshop, in which they were required to sort fasteners into the correct stages of the manufacturing process.
Simon Wright, Director, UK Business Development & International Marketing, said, “the students all seemed to be having a great time experiencing what different careers in engineering and manufacturing look like, and the engagement was truly encouraging. To explain the fastener manufacturing process, we used samples of tooling, video and real-life parts from every stage of production, which kept them engaged and prompted some really good questions.
“It was a privilege to talk about the importance of fasteners in everyday life and the technology behind how they are made to such a large number of students.”
Optimas’ attendance at TeenTech was the first of many educational investments for the company as they look to increasingly support education and STEM opportunities, and the company is looking forward to continuing this momentum into 2023 and beyond.
